Superman Movie Minute #13 – Get Out

December 18, 2017

SUPERMAN MOVIE MINUTE #13 – Get Out

Fire and Water Network All-Stars Chris Franklin and Rob Kelly bring you SUPERMAN MOVIE MINUTE, where they analyze, scrutinize, and you’ll-believe-a-man-can-fly-ize the classic 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, and Marlon Brando, five minutes at a time!

In minutes 61:00 – 65:00, Lex explains his plan, Clark asks Lois out on a date, and Lois grabs a ride on a helicopter. Special Guest: Bob Fisher!

12 responses to “Superman Movie Minute #13 – Get Out”

Lex Luthor: Miss Teschmacher, when I was six years old my father said to me–

Miss Teschmacher: “Get out.”

Lex Luthor (smiling): Ha ha. Before that.

I’ve always taken this exchange to be Luthor saying, “OK, I can go along with a gag” but it seems you guys have taken it that Luthor was actually kicked out by his father when he was six. Chuck Coletta seems to agree with you (based on a comment on the previous episode). Am I that far off the mark here? Do we have any evidence one way or another for what happened?

I never got the sense that Lex could laugh at himself, and almost take it as a point of pride that his father didn’t appreciate his QUITE OBVIOUS off the charts genius and general superiority, so he kicked him out. IDK maybe I’m wrong, but the way Hackman plays it, I take it like it really happened.

I think Lex’s Dad definitely kicked him out. Not at six maybe, but at some point when he was pretty young and definitely not an adult. It follows the comics as well with that often-repeated Silver Age panel of the Luthor family disowning their son.

Another great discussion with Mr. Fisher! I think I could go all night with him debating the “is he Clark or is he Superman?” question with him. Of course, all my reference points are 30 years out of date. You got me thinking, though. In the context of this film, the creators have an advantage. They anticipated that their audience would already know Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Superman as characters. So, in the case of Clark, there is no explanation. Only in an analysis like this do we ask, “ How, when, and where did Clark decide to create the public face of “Clark Kent?” Being a fast typer is one thing, choosing a personality, wardrobe, likes and dislikes, pop culture references, etc. after 12 years of isolation is something else. Did he practice? Did he film himself and break down what worked and what didn’t? The movie audience doesn’t already knew who he was and how he should act. Name another character, real or fictional, who is described as “mild mannered.”
One of the reasons I enjoy the (pre-crisis) Superboy concept is that we could see him figuring it out as he grew.
You also got me thinking about the “true self” question. Superman, while capable and willing, is not a dynamic take -charge type. He IS mild mannered. In his group affiliations, there are other, more natural, leaders. Batman certainly. Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and Wildfire. In the JSA, Hawkman and Green Lantern. Superman is always willing to share the workload and the credit.